LETTER TO JOHN BRENNAN FROM DIANNE FEINSTEIN & SAXBY CHAMBLISS REGARDING QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE CIA'S SEARCH OF THE COMPUTER NETWORK

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06264707
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: September 12, 2023
• Document Release Date: July 31, 2023
• Case Number: F-2014-01062
• Publication Date: March 27, 2014

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DIANNE FEINSTEIN, CALIFORNIA, CHAIRMAN
SAV3Y CHAMB LISS, GEORGIA, VICE CHAIRMAN
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WEST VIRGINIA RICHARD BURR, NORTH CAROLINA
RON VVYDEN, OREGON JAMES E. RISCH, IDAHO
BARBARAA. MILKULSKI, MARYLAND DANIEL COATS, INDIANA
MARK UDALL, COLORADO MARCO RUBIO, FLORIDA
MARK WARNER, VIRGINIA SUSAN COLLINS, MAINE
MARTIN HEINRICH, NEW MEXICO TOM COBURN, OKLAHOMA 0
'GUS KING, MANE
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HARRY REID, NEVADA, EX OFFICIO
MITCH McCONNELL, KENTUCKY, EX OFFICIO
CARL LEVIN, MICHIGAN, BC OFFICIO
JAMES INHOFE, OKLAHOMA, EX OFFICIO
DAVID GRAMILS, STAFF DIRECTOR
MARTHA SCOTT POINDIXTER, MINORITY STAFF DIRECTOR
DESIREE THOMPSON SAYLE, CHIEF CLERK
The Honorable John Brennan
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, DC 20505
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SELECTCOMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
WASHINGTON, DC205106475
March 27, 2014
SSCI# 2014-1051
Dear Director Brennan:
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence ("SSCI" or "the Committee") voted
on March 13, 2014 to request responses from you to a number of questions related to the
CIA's search of the computer network at the CIA-leased facility where the Committee
has been conducting its research for its Study of the CIA's Detention and Interrogation
Program.
We are particularly interested in any search of the computers, hard drives, "shared
drives," and other parts of the computer system dedicated for use by the SSCI (hereafter
"SSCI-dedicated computer system").
As you know, Chairman Feinstein sent a similar list of twelve questions to you on
January 23,2014, following our meeting on January 15, but has not received a response.
The full Committee now requests your prompt response to the following questions.
1. Who first suggested the search of the SSCI-dedicated computer system? Did
you approve the search(es)? If not, who approved the action?
2. What was the specific purpose(s) of conducting such a search?
3. Did the CIA seek or receive legal guidance prior to the approval of the search,
either from its own Office of General Counsel or from other parts of the U.S.
Government? If so, did that legal guidance take into account the written
understandings reached between the SSCI and CIA designed to protect the
confidentiality of the Committee's oversight activities�to include research and
writing�on the SSCI-dedicated computer system?
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4. What was the legal basis for the search of the SSCI-dedicated computer
system? Did the CIA seek and obtain prior legal authorization (e.g., a search
warrant) to conduct the search(es)?
Was the search a one-time event, or were there multiple searches of the SSCI-
dedicated computer system? Please specify for each search that was conducted:
(1) the date and time that such search was initiated; (2) the physical location
from which the search was conducted; (3) the parts of the computers, computer
networks, drives, and SSCI-dedicated computer system that were searched; (4)
the names and position titles of the individuals who conducted such search
(please specify which of these individuals, if any, were government
contractors); (5) the date and time that each search was terminated; and (6) the
reason why such search was terminated.
6. What were the directions provided to the individuals who conducted the
search(es) of the SSCI-dedicated computer system? How, specifically, were
such searches conducted?
7 What materials on the SSCI-dedicated computer system were searched and
reviewed by CIA personnel, CIA contractors, and, if applicable, any other
federal government employees? Did such searches include internal
communications between Committee staff or personal notes or other work-
product of Committee staff? Was any process used to minimize the extent of
the search of such sensitive "walled-off' materials?
Please explain how the search of the SSCI-dedicated computer system resulted
in the discovery of material the "SSCI majority staff had accessed" on "the
majority staff shared drive" as noted in your talking points from January 15,
2014. Was additional information obtained on the activities of staff at the
facility? Has the CIA conducted any other electronic or other monitoring of the
Committee majority or minority staff at the facility? If so, please describe the
monitoring.
9. Has a CIA employee or contractor at any time physically entered the SSCI
majority staff office space (which was secured by a Combination lock) or the
SSCI minority staff office space (which was secured by a door lock), where the
Committee's network workstations, work-product, and other materials were
located? If so, when did these entries occur and who entered the rooms? Were
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any hard copy documents in those rooms reviewed, searched, copied, or
removed?
10. Did the CIA alter, copy, delete, or destroy any data from the SSCI-dedicated
computer system? If so, what?
11. Does the CIA have in its possession any materials reviewed during any search
of the SSCI-dedicated computer system? If so, who has custody of the records
and materials?
12. Who, if anyone, outside of the CIA was aware of the possibility or plans to
search the SSCI-dedicated computer system prior to the search occurring?
13. Who, if anyone, outside of the CIA, did the CIA consult or inform after the
search(es) and before Chairman Feinstein's letter of January 23, 2014?
Specifically, did CIA personnel inform the Director of National Intelligence,
the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the White
House, or the President's Intelligence Advisory Board and its Intelligence
Oversight Board, and if so, when?
14. What means did the CIA have for determining the location of the Panetta
internal review documents other than by searching the SSCI-dedicated
computer system? Please describe any such alternatives and whether any were
considered or utilized in coordination with the search of the SSCI-dedicated
computer system.
We appreciate your prompt answers to these important oversight questions.
Sincerely,
Dianne Feinstein S a I mbliss
Chairman irman
cc: Members, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
The Honorable Jim Clapper, Director of National Intelligence
Ms. Kathryn Ruemmler, White House Counsel
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